Maldivians in Syria to be brought back within two months

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced that Maldivians trapped in war-torn Syria will be brought back to Maldives within two months.

Speaking at a press conference held on Thursday, the President said in answer to a journalist's inquiry that the government is working with two other countries to find a way to bring back Maldivians trapped at Syrian refuge camps.

While a rehabilitation program will be conducted for the people before thy are re-integrated into society, work is ongoing to construct a building for the people to stay in before their re-integration. The building will be completed within two moths, said President Solih.

The Maldivians at the refugee camps will be extracted from the camps and taken to another country next month before they are brought back to Maldives, revealed the president. However, he did not disclose to which country the people will be taken to.

"As you are aware, these people are caught in the middle of a terrorist war. Therefore, it would not be wise to let them loose into society immediately upon their return. We have been advised as such by corresponding countries and organizations who are working with us on this issue. Therefore, we are working on establishing a place for them to stay at, where they will be rehabilitated before their reintegration into society", said the president.

Last April, a list was circulated on social media that listed the names of Maldivians allegedly based at Al-Hawl refugee camp in northern Syria.

While 33 people were named on the list, it also had information on 12 children who were born to Maldivians in Syria. While the women on the list are the spouses of Maldivian fighters who went to join the Syrian war, the women have been forced to marry other people after their husband were killed in action. However, no authorities have confirmed the authenticity of the list.

During Thursday's press conference, President Solih said the nationality of some of the children at the camps need to be validated, and admitted that there were several challenges to verifying their nationality.

While the government has previously stated that 61 Maldivian men has traveled to Syria to join their war, the number of women and children who accompanied the men have not been revealed to date.